pixie dust ✧ larry au

one

PART I OF IV

Harry didn't know what he was expecting. From the moment him and Niall took off and started being pushed by pixies everywhere trying to get a good seat, Harry had hoped that Peter would finally give him a mentee, but now that he's trying to see over the heads of all the other excited Pixies, he doesn't know anymore.

"People of Neverland," he hears Peter's booming voice in front of all these floating Pixies. "Before we begin, I am very sad to tell you that this will be the Last Boy or Girl I will bring to Neverland due to... ah, difficulties."

What? Harry thinks to himself as murmurs arise all around him, getting louder every second. He can imagine Peter's stormy grey eyes softening at the sight and his eyebrows furrowing as he looks around at all the confused faces of Pixies and Lost Boys and Girls at this statement. Lost People had been arriving since Neverland was created, and he had never been stopped, so why would he now? What could have happened for him to stop?

Peter Pan has always flown around the world, trying to bring as many children as he could. Therefore, Neverland has always had kids of every race, gender, religion and economic situation who all they'd ever wanted was to be happy. Every time Peter had brought a little kid, a Pixie of whichever power the Winds think is appropriate is assigned to that young soul to practice and learn the magic that specific Pixie practices. And every single bright Pixie in Neverland has a mentee, which means that if Peter personally decides to take this new person in instead of giving it to someone, Harry will stay without someone to teach whatever it is that Harry practices.

"Psh, Harry," he hears someone hiss from beside him and he slightly turns his head, bright blue eyes meeting his green ones.

"Perrie?" Harry whispers loudly, carefully pulling out the purple strands of hair that are getting in his mouth. "You dyed your hair purple?"

"I did." Perrie smiles proudly, slight dimples appearing on her cheeks as she shrugs her shoulders shyly.

Harry stares at her for a moment, eyebrows scrunching up slightly before his face breaks into a bright grin and he mumbles, "It looks good, Pez." He pats the top of her head in a playful manner. "But anyway, what's up?"

"Thanks, Haz." She rolls her eyes in a fond way, playfully slapping his hand away. "D'ya think this one's gonna be yours?" She flips a strand of hair out of her face, a golden aura glimmering happily around her.

"I mean, I hope so." Peter's not speaking anymore, so he knows he can stop whispering for now, but the Pixies around him still are, as if they are scared of something. "Five centuries have gone by, and I still haven't had a mentee. Ever. I'd like to think it's about damn time."

"I sometimes forget how old you are," Perrie giggles softly, tearing her gaze away from Harry so she can look around for a moment, her eyes flickering through the crowd curiously. Harry smiles. "But anyway. I'm sure this is your chance, Hazza. Just have faith." She leans in and places a soft kiss on Harry's cheek before flying away to her friends, a trail of golden glitter following behind her.

"I've been having faith for the last five hundred years ," Harry mutters to himself just as the voices around him slowly fade into complete silence and Peter speaks up once again.

"This kid is definitely special." Harry arches an eyebrow at that, waiting for him to continue. "I did not choose him this time, like I always do. The Winds specifically asked for him, saying he would help us, everyone, overcome future problems."

"Now, I'm going to ask one of the most special Pixies there is to please come to the front."

The creatures start speaking again and Harry scoffs, rolling his eyes. As if. No Pixie has ever had two mentees before. It would drain and eventually kill them from the effort, and he doubts anyone wants to die. Yet. He crosses his arms over his plain white cotton shirt and and nervously bites down on his lip.

"But please, keep quiet because the younger ones are sleeping." Some, including Harry, giggle softly at that and look up at the trees where the houses of the small ones are because they all know damn well no one is sleeping, then fix their eyes back on Peter.

Harry lets out a nervous sigh and at that moment, it's just as if Time slows down.

"This boy's mentor will — finally — be..."

Everyone's breath catches in their throats at the same time and Harry finds himself leaning forwards with all the other Pixies anxiously. Even the trees have quieted down to hear Peter's final answer, for it has been quite a long time since he has brought someone new, honestly.

"Harry, could you please come forward?"

And it feels like Time just snapped his fingers and everyone is turning their heads to stare at Harry with wide, surprised eyes as the Pixies in front of him part in two sides to make a small path, sparks of every colour lightening it up like fireworks on Christmas. Harry snorts in his head at the thought but starts to slowly flutter his wings and shyly flies forward, feeling every eye on the place watching him and his colourless trail until he reaches the wooden stage.

He soon is met by those two familiar grey eyes that have crinkles by their sides from smiling too much even when there was no reason to, just to give everyone hope and make them happy. He hears people in the crowd talking to each other and he resists the urge to smirk because well, yeah, he is kind of proud of having a mentee after such a long time.

"Peter," Harry murmurs and bows his head in a small sign of respect and feels his heart swell as the boy — no, man — grins widely, reaching up to use his index finger to gently ruffle Harry's curly hair.

"Harry. Congratulations." Peter's smile slowly disappears, but his eyes shine happily and he nods down to the young boy curled up by his feet, who is gaping up at Harry then at all the Pixies who are moving their differently coloured wings to hover over the ground ro sitting on trees, and speaks up, his voice resonating loudly through the place. "Louis Tomlinson, I present you your new mentor, Harry Styles. He will be the one to guide you through your journey of life here in Neverland and teach you his ways..."

Harry zones out after that; he's heard it all before a million times and instead looks down to the young boy to study him. He must not be older than twelve years old and Harry is genuinely surprised by that. The oldest age anyone has arrived there has been seven years old, and that is still quite old. The boy — Louis — looks up at Harry with wide, excited eyes and Harry feels his heart flutter at how blue they are. It's as if he were looking at the ocean on a bright summer day.

"Harry," Peter says once again and he snaps his head towards him. "You've been here longer than anyone here, almost as much as Tinkerbell and I have, and you still don't know what your place here is. The Winds and I believe that Louis will help you find your purpose, and you will help him to find his."